seven-course

The compound "seven-course" is a modern English formation that transparently combines a cardinal number with a term for a sequential part of a meal. "Seven" descends from the Proto-Indo-European root septḿ̥, a stable numeral that gave rise to its equivalents in most Indo-European languages, such as Latin septem and Greek hepta. "Course" originates from the Latin verb currere (to run), via cursus (a running, journey, progression), which evolved in Old French to signify a path or sequence. By the 14th century, English adopted "course" and extended its meaning from a path of action to a successive stage in various processes, including meals. Thus, the literal logic of the morphemes—"seven" plus "a stage in a progression"—directly yields the modern meaning of a meal consisting of seven successive stages or dishes.

Structure: seven (number) + course (part of a meal) - seven: From Old English seofon, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch zeven and German sieben, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin septem and Greek hepta. Functions as a numerical quantifier. - course: From Old French cours, from Latin cursus 'a running, journey', from currere 'to run'. In this compound, it functions to denote a stage or part of a meal.